How To Find a Job - Write a Resume That Grabs Attention.

What's the purpose of my Resume?

That's obvious right ? To get a job.

Well that's the end result, but the main purpose of the Resume is to get a job interview. You are about to summarise your career so that someone can decide whether you are worth taking to the next level of selection and you don't have long to convince them.

This is an important marketing tool for your career, probably the most important marketing exercise you will undertake (unless marketing is your career!)

The best approach to writing a Resume is to put yourself in the position of the person who will be reading your Resume. Remember this person could be reading literally hundreds of other Resumes for the same position and they will be scanning those resumes quickly for relevance. So your Resume has got to stand out in the first 20 seconds, because that is where the trash line will be.

Let me repeat - keep or trash may be decided in 20 seconds or less!

Given that you may have only 20 seconds to make an impression that says - I want to read more of this or I don't want to waste any more of my time on this, you have to design your Resume for instant appeal.

Good, white, quality paper will give the right first impression.

First thing is your name and contact details - that's your heading - NOT RESUME or CV or Curriculum Vitae. The reader knows what it is.

Then comes a "profile". Two or three sentences (in a box) to immediately grab the readers attention and summarize your competencies, achievements, skills and knowledge. (In 3 sentences? - The key is to tailor it to the job you're applying for).Here you set out your "brand". Are you an energetic go getter, or a safe,methodical, eye for detail person? Decide how you want to brand yourself. What message are you hoping to convey?

• An attractive businesslike font (times new roman or ariel) in 11 point size.
• Enough white space to be both easily readable and aesthetically pleasing.
• Expand on your profile with detail and dates,numbers and values but be prepared to justify them in your interview and stay focussed - no room for waffle here.The keyword is RELEVANCE.
• Remember action words in the past tense - achieved, performed, saved.
• Do not include any jargon that the reader will not understand.
• You should,of course, tell the truth but not necessarily the whole truth.
• Above all, your Resume should ooze confidence. - Remember you're selling yourself and if you're not buying then no one else will!

The perfect Resume does not exist!

That's why you should never write one Resume - You should write as many Resumes as jobs being applied for.

Sure you can follow all the tips above and you should have a base line, master Resume with paragraphs which can be copy/pasted into your job application resume.

Then you should get specific.

What are the employers asking for in their ad?

• How do your competencies match their requirements?
• How do your achievements relate to what they will want you to achieve for them?
• Have you got the required skills?
• Do you have particular knowledge that would be of use to them.
• Echo some of their ad buzzwords.
• View their website and get a feel for their culture.
• Tell them specifically how you will be able to help them.